"WHO SHOULD PRAY? HALEY"

August 13, 2012

Hello FAMILY!

Yes, the title of the email. "Who should Pray? Haley." I will address that at this time. On Monday night we ate dinner at the Barker's home. Laura Barker is my friend from BYU who was in my ward at the Enclave and she played with me on my football team. Well, I knew that I was coming to Laura's mission but I had no idea where she was from. The 3rd week I was here in Moorpark someone brought up a girl that went to BYU and was really good at basketball, and said that her name was Laura. Well, the light flicked on in my head and I asked what her last name was and it was my Laura Barker! I saw Laura that week in church and it was so crazy. Well, on Monday we finally got to go to her house for dinner. It was really fun and kind of weird at the same time. I felt like I was in limbo between being a missionary and a BYU student. It was crazy. Well, the whole night Laura would call me Haley. I don't blame her, that's who I am to her. She was trying really hard to call me Sister Bennett, but I understand why she slipped up. That made it more weird for me. I was thinking "I'm not Haley. I'm Sister Bennett. Haley is dead right now." Haha. Well at the end of sharing our lesson we asked if we could leave them with a prayer, and Brother Barker said, "Who should say it?" Then Sister Wilkinson, my companion, answered and said "I think Haley should." AHHH!!! I couldn't believe it. That was so weird. Sister Wilkinson just slapped her hand over her mouth and I laughed so hard that I was crying. It was also not something I ever want to hear her say again while we're on our missions. That was super weird.

Anyway, that was fun. I haven't gotten an email from mom yet, so I don't know what questions to address. This week I got a letter from Cortney's old roommate, Nicki Infanzon. It was the sweetest letter I have ever read. I just wanted to say thanks to Nicki. That letter really made me feel the spirit of my calling as a missionary, and it gave me even more of a drive to be an obedient hard working missionary. I am really grateful for that letter. Thanks Nicki. I know you read my blog, so there's a shout out to you. :) I will write you another letter all for yourself, don't worry. Oh and getting that letter reminded me of something that I forgot to tell Cortz. I met one of your friends in the MTC and we were on the same flight to AZ from the MTC. I don't remember her name, but I think she is going to Brazil or something? I can't remember. She said she lived by you last fall. In the MTC she walked up to me randomly and said "Are you Cortney's sister?" I was like yes! She said that she saw my tag and I look just like Cortz so she knew I had to be your sister, Cortney.

This past week has been so hot here! I just want to die because it's so hot. As soon as we start walking around I'm sweating, and it's not even humid here. Don't worry mom, I've been wearing my sunscreen. We actually talked to a lady who was in her garage one day and she wasn't interested at all in our message and wouldn't let us say anything, but then all of a sudden she walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder and said "I hope you're wearing sunscreen in this heat, young lady!" Mom, you must be praying that I remember to wear it, because everyone keeps reminding me. It's always people that aren't interested in the message that are so worried about me getting burned. That was the second time that's happened to me! Haha.

Thanks mom for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD. I love it so much. My favorite hymn these days is #221, and they have the best arrangement of it on that CD. I feel the Spirit every time we hear it in the car, which is a lot because I'm obsessed with it. Sister Wilkinson is probably getting sick of me listening to it. hahah. Also, I only have like 12 more pages left in my journal! It's ok if you don't want to send me one like my last one, because I bought one just in case. My goal is to write in my journal every day of my mission.  I feel like I'm always asking for things in emails, so feel free to disregard. haha. Oh, but one thing I really do need is a Jesus the Christ. I want to read it. Did you ever find Dad's mini version? If not, do you think you can send me one? I would really like that. It has a lot of good stuff in it, but I can't always read it because I've been using Sister Wilkinson's and she needs to read it sometimes, too.

Now let's talk about what actually matters. This week we taught Eric and Cristina, Olie Hamm (a recent convert) twice, Kayli V., Nadine, Fernando, Tonya and Caitlyn twice, Heena, Carol and Paula, the Eatons, and Wendy.

It was a busy week, but at the same time I felt that we could have done better. I really have been trying to focus on the goals that we make rather than setting them each week during weekly planning and not looking at them again until we call in numbers on Sunday night of the next week. One thing that I know has helped Sister Wilkinson and I is to really focus on our daily goals in order to accomplish the weekly goals we have set. We haven't mastered this idea to any extent, but that is something that I personally really want to work on because I know that we set goals for a reason and that as we focus on those goals and on reaching them  the Lord will help us.

We watched the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration movie with Eric and Cristina on Monday. I felt the Spirit so much during the movie, so much so that I know that it is impossible for them to have not felt it. I know that Eric was very interested in the movie and very focused on it, but Cristina always acts like she isn't interested or like she doesn't know what's going on. I know that she does. There is something that is holding her back from just doing the simple things, like pray, to know if God is there. She said she had lost her faith and I think that she is scared of having faith and "losing" it again. It's been hard to break through with her because she has felt the Spirit. Every time she does she just describes it as remembering feelings that she once had, and how it's nice but isn't real. Sister Wilkinson and I aren't sure what to do with them. We will probably have to drop them because they haven't been reading in the Book of Mormon, but it's hard for me to even think about doing that. I haven't had to drop anyone yet, and I just love them so much. The idea of them not having the opportunity to find out the truth at this time really makes me sad, but at the same time I know that Heavenly Father knows what's best for them. This may not be the time in their lives that they are prepared to receive the gospel. I know that because we've taught them what we have, that later they will be able to accept the gospel. I know that someday they will.

Kayli V. passed her baptismal interview on Saturday! We are so excited for her! She finally talked to her parents and told them that she is getting baptized and it went really well. She was really scared about how her dad would react, and he actually reacted better than her mom did. He said just said "Ok, it's your decision." I know that our fasting and prayers on Kayli's behalf, as well as the ward's prayers and fasting, have truly been answered. I know that the Lord softened her parents' hearts and that because Kayli showed her faith by going forward with the decision to be baptized that she was blessed. I can't even explain how much joy I felt when Kayli said that she would be baptized on the 19th. I just can't wait for her to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and receive all of the blessings that come after baptism like going to the temple to do baptisms for the dead or getting her patriarchal blessing. There is so much that has yet to come for Kayli and baptism just opens it all up to her. How amazing is the atonement? I am so grateful to be a part of this work in which I am able to see people repent and change through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is such a blessing to know what we know.

Fernando is a man who is a "prophet" at the Victory Outreach church. He said that he had prophesied of the earthquake in China and told us about other prophesies he has had that have come true. We had given him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read it. When we came back for our appointment he took the time to tell us that the Church is of the devil, but it was interesting because it wasn't mean. Fernando was sincerely concerned for us. I was getting frustrated, however, because he wouldn't give us the opportunity to share the message of the restoration. He talks a lot about the Holy Spirit and how it teaches him, and I know that it's true. I'm sure that the Spirit does teach him certain truths, but he doesn't have the fullness of the truth. I just wanted to scream "Read the Book of Mormon!" That would most likely not have been ok, but I know that he will receive a witness from the Spirit that it's the word of God. Teaching Fernando was still a really good experience to feel the Spirit as I shared my testimony with him right after he told us we are going to hell. That was a great experience for me. Sister Wilkinson was a bit for flustered about it, but I just felt calm the whole time. I just kept thinking, "Wow, I really do KNOW that the church is the church of Jesus Christ on the earth. It truly is knowledge."

Teaching Tonya and Caitlyn is always a treat. This week we ran into our first hiccup with them. Caitlyn told Kayli V that she doesn't want to be baptized on the same day as her mom because she wants her mom to have that be a special day for herself. I couldn't believe that. How would that day be any more special than getting baptized with your daughter? I don't know if that's truly why Catilyn doesn't want to get baptized on that day, but we're teaching them tonight so I just pray that we can resolve her concern about being baptized. After our lesson with them yesterday, Tonya texted us expressing her concerns about Catilyn. She is worried that Caitlyn is "bored" with the lessons because it all seems too simple to them both. It's seems simple because it is simple. The gospel isn't a blockbuster movie. We don't have it in our lives to wow us and give us entertainment. I know that it seems so simple to them because in their case they are recognizing that they have heard this before or that it's seems familiar because they are prepared for it. Tonight we are teaching them about baptism, reading the scriptures, and praying. I know that we need the Spirit with us always, but in great abundance tonight so that we can help Caitlyn. I know that she has felt the Spirit and that she is ready to be baptized, but she needs to know that for herself. I am so grateful to be teaching them. I talk about this a lot, but the love that I feel for them is amazing. I didn't know that I could feel so much for someone that isn't a member of my family. It really creates that burning desire within me to help them increase their faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, and that is so important in this work. I'm just grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing me to feel that love for them and to have been able to be involved in teaching them.

Lastly, we taught Wendy yesterday at Brother Pierson's home. She is doing really well. She's just a powerhouse. That's the best way to describe her. She always comes to lessons having learned so much and is so excited to share insights or spiritual experiences that she has had. We taught her about the priesthood and I just love hearing her testimony of the priesthood. It is so strong. She really understands how important it is to have the priesthood on the earth leading Jesus Christ's church. She is just awesome. I hope that the Bishop calls her as a ward missionary because she would be so great!

Well, we really had a great week. I realize that now as I look back on all of the lessons that we had. For some reason I was feeling like we could have done more, because we only got 3 new investigators this week and I felt like I wasn't declaring with power. I have been praying a lot to have the Spirit with me and to recognize it working through me, because I truly know how important it is in this work. That if we teach with the Spirit then we are doing things the way that they are meant to be done, and that no matter what happens, if the people accept the message or not, that we have done all that we can.

One thing that I really have been trying to be more aware of is the balance between being myself and at the same time maintaining my mantle of being a missionary. I connect well with people, really well, and that was something that was talked about in my setting apart blessing, that my ability to make friends would be a great blessing to me. However, I need to make sure that I am not too casual with people. It's been hard and I am still trying to figure it out, but I need to always make sure that they know I'm a representative of Jesus Christ. Pray that I can understand how to find that balance.

Well, I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you all for your emails and letters. I love my family so much. Sister Wilkinson, during companionship inventory, told me that she loves how she can see and feel how much I love my family as I talk about them every day. I really appreciated that because it's true, I love you all. Be good.

Love,

Sister Bennett